Artisan group members from opposite sides of the country are experimenting in new uses for granite scrap. Rocky Mountain Stone in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Solid Tops in Easaton, Maryland have both developed innovative processes and uses for turning their granite scrap into a new, viable finished products.
"With the waste we create from cutting custom granite kitchen countertops, we created a unique new product to use as paving stones," says Scott Lardner, president, Rocky Mountain Stone. "From a designer's perspective, we've created the modern look of cobblestone; a collage of color and texture. From an environmentalist's perspective, we have the ultimate green paver." The pavers are made at Rocky Mountain Stone in Albuquerque from 100% recycled materials. They are available in four different shapes: 4- x 8-inch rectangles, 6-inch hexagons, 4-inch scallops, and 4-inch diamonds; colors are variable. After being stamped on a machine, they are tumbled to add texture and slip resistance to the polished face.
"Since each kitchen is a mixture of unique shapes and sizes, there is inevitably about 30% waste out of each slab we cut," Lardner continues. "The larger end cuts are saved in our boneyard, where consumers have an opportunity here to purchase vanities, fireplace hearths, and other small projects at discounted prices. But there has always been a varying line drawn that separates an 'end cut' or 'remnant' from waste. The waste that was left over used to be saved in another pile at the far end of our yard, and there were stacks and stacks of granite. We try to sell these to our landscaping customers, encouraged by the 'trash-to-treasure' theory. The truth is, though, that these unevenly sized and unfinished pieces of granite and marble are sometimes difficult to use. And so, our stacks grew higher and multiplied. Something had to be done. This is where the idea of a stone stamper was born. We turned our stacks of leftover granite into a unique, attractive, and very durable landscaping product."
Being in a desert environment, Rocky Mountain Stone also takes measures to educate the public about the benefits of Xeriscaping -landscaping and gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental water from irrigation. Valuable tips on how to save water in the high desert of New Mexico are available in the company's Yard Sales office.
Along the line of saving water, Rocky Mountain Stone has made water recycling a priority in the shop. "All the water used in our production facility is run through a filtering system to remove waste particles and is returned to the tank to be used again, with 100% efficiency," says Lardner. "The entire shop is run on less than a residential water bill."
Rocky Mountain Stone was started in 1963 as a supplier of natural building and landscaping stone for the Albuquerque area. Since then, the company has expanded into every aspect of the natural stone industry, and it continues to be a progressive leader in stone fabrication.
Artisan Group member Solid Tops is also making strides to reuse and recycle granite scraps, water used in fabrication, as well as offering Heritage Wood reclaimed wood countertops from barns and building across America, and TreeNu recycled paper countertops. "We recycle our granite scraps, left over from fabricating kitchen countertops and bathroom vanities, into landscape applications and gravel used by excavating companies," says Evan Kruger, President, Solid Tops. "We have added some great recycled content countertops such as reclaimed Heritage Wood and recycled paper to round out our wide array of eco-friendly choices for kitchens and baths."
Solid Tops sends about 1,000 pounds of scrap granite per day to a recycler who crushes it, along with concrete, into gravel for an excavating business. Larger pieces are available for landscaping applications.
Solid Tops also utilizes a water treatment/ water recycling system that enables them to recycle close to 100% of the water used in fabrication.
"These reuse and recycling measures help the community to stay cleaner and our shop be more efficient," says Kruger.
Rocky Mountain Stone was started in 1963 as a supplier of natural building and landscaping stone for the Albuquerque area. They have since expanded into every aspect of the natural stone industry, including full fabrication and installation services of all types of dimensional stone, for both residential and commercial applications, with waterjet cutting services available. They are also a full service supplier of natural stone for the landscaping and masonry trades.
For more information, visit their website www.rmstone.com , call 505-345-8518 or visit 4741 Pan American Freeway NE while in Albuquerque.
SolidTops has been serving Maryland and Delaware for a decade, growing from a oneman shop into an experienced team of specialists providing premium countertops: Artisan Stone Collection granite, marble and Saratoga Soapstone, Heritage Wood, Quartz, EOS, Silestone, Corian and other materials. SolidTops, LLC. For more information, visit www.solidtops.com or the showroom at 505 South Street, Easton, Maryland 21601, (410) 819-0770.
Artisan Group member Rocky Mountain Stone has developed an innovative process for turning its granite scrap remnants into a new, finished product.
Artisan Group member Solid Tops is also making strides to reuse and recycle granite scraps, water used in fabrication, as well as offering Heritage Wood reclaimed wood countertops from barns and building across America, and TreeNu recycled paper countertops.
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